Bette Midler got her start as a bawdy entertainer in a gay bathhouse, where she no doubt got a firsthand lesson in sass. She then went on to build a huge name for herself as a singer, actress and all-around badass.
Related: Rare Footage Captures Bette Midler’s 1971 Farewell Performance At NYC Gay Bathhouse
So it’s no surprise that Justin Bieber experienced the backlash of the Divine Miss M when he feebly attempted to burn her in the media.
The whole thing started when Justin’s Bieber was photographed on the beach in Bora Bora. But of course you remember that.
How about we take this to the next level?
Our newsletter is like a refreshing cocktail (or mocktail) of LGBTQ+ entertainment and pop culture, served up with a side of eye-candy.
After the photos leaked, the Bieb’s dad took to Twitter to offer some very odd commentary on the situation, writing:
That’s when Bette said what everyone else was just thinking:
Justin simultaneously defended Dad and lashed out at Bette (or, as he calls her, “Britt”) in a Billboard interview:
“This Britt Meddler,” Bieber mused to Billboard. “I don’t even know who that is, honestly. I wanted to immediately say ‘Who is this lady?’, but then I’m just fueling this negativity. I do feel the photo was an invasion of my privacy. I felt super violated. My dad made light of it, but I don’t think that’s sick and twisted. It was funny. Dads are going to be dads.”
Well Bette just couldn’t resist having a good laugh at Justin’s transparent (and hilarious) attempt at marginalizing her:
And just like that, @BrittMidler was born:
@BrittMeddler I peeeeeed!!!!
— Bette Midler (@BetteMidler) November 6, 2015
When I first heard @justinbieber dropped my name pic.twitter.com/smVkusq5VR
— Britt Meddler (@BrittMeddler) November 5, 2015
Related: PHOTOS: Justin Bieber Caught Letting It ALL Hang Out During Naked Swim In Bora Bora
h/t: Attitude
Kamal Patel
I bow down to Your Diva HIghness
Robert Wilson
Shade or typo?
billywonka
Poor Justin – regardless of size he’ll always be a little dick-headed fool.
Mark Reimer
Da boi jes’ ain’t too bright, is he?
John Flannery
Umm, that was kind of a big nothing.
Luis Collazo
Him not knowing Bette proves he’s not gay!
mauikamaaina
I am probably one of the very few Queerty followers who like you, Justin. But, Justin, my young friend, YOU are no match for the DIVINE MISS M!
Kieran
Britt Meddler. LOL Touche.
Nick Hung
Bette the boy is barely 20, you probably have grand children his age, be nice
Andrew Rankin
Justin Bieber not knowing anything is… not surprising.
SeeingAll
mutual publicity
Brian
Bette Midler seems to have an obsession with dicks. Maybe she misses having one.
SeeingAll
@Brian: that can be taken….a couple of ways..
Jessie Diaz
he’s a fool. waste of ttime.
BigG
Justin needs to just zip it. It’s just embarrassing
SeeingAll
@BigG: Actually I think he got the better of her for butting in. (Though I really think this is all scripted stuff..)
CamRon Hastiin Yazhii
Ha! Gotta love Bette Medler! Lol
Xzamilio
She started it, he clapped back… the end.
Cielo Perdomo
Beiber is a talentless moron. Bette Midler has more talent in her left foot’s tiny pinky toe than he has in his entire body.
Bill Crossfield
what an ass he is
James Sigmon
Update he came out
Ernie Curry
Ahh these kids. It’s not their fault some of them are just stupid to the bone.
Tom McGloin
Joshua Michael LeBlanc
Mark Gibson
Bieber needs a history lesson.
Robert Barber
Poor kid. .Bright as a refrigerator bulb,Bette Super Nova fucking Midler
Kevin J Desmond
Like the bottom boy could even stand a chance against The Dive Miss M !!
SportGuy
LOL, love you Bette! This stupid useless twit kid needs to go back to Canada and annoy the people in his own country. He is irrelevant and just begs for attention everyday. Even the teen girls he targets are over him, all he has no is the pedos who like him,lol.
SeeingAll
@Kevin J Desmond: He won here. But she showed herself to be a good sport about it (her responses are scrambling, but funny).
SeeingAll
@Robert Barber: Super Nova wasn’t bright enough to mind her business to begin with.
Brian
Where has Bette Midler been in the struggle for gay marriage? I’ve never seen her on a podium. I wonder if she’s another example of a woman who’s worshipped by clueless gay men simply because she’s a woman and has ovaries.
Sandeep Chowdhury
stupid dory
Freddy Siguenza
i still think guys are screwing him and vice versa just like colton haynes
Jose B Carranza
Hilarious!
lauraspencer
Oh, Justin….Have you heard of Cher? Madonna? Dolly Parton?
Justin, when you have a career spanning 5 decades and 2 centuries you might come close to throwing shade at Bette and Britt, but until then sit the f@ck down.
Sweetie Pie
Everybody knows who`s Bette Middler, but that doesn’t give her the right to be tweeting about other people private lives
Sorry Bette…you need a life
SeeingAll
@lauraspencer: Neither Cher, Madonna, nor Dolly Parton went ahead to butt into his business though.
lauraspencer
@Sweetie Pie:
Bieber’s father tweeted first so it was fair game.
lauraspencer
@SeeingAll:
It wasn’t “private” business once his father made the comment. It was fair game.
If Justin didn’t want anyone butting into his business he wouldn’t have stayed at a resort that every paparazzo knows about and in a room so easily photographed. Not to mention he fluffed himself before going on the patio knowing he was being photographed.
Justin wanted people talking.
If Justin’s father isn’t sensitive to his own son’s feelings, why should Bette Midler who is a known comic be expected to be?
SeeingAll
@lauraspencer: “If Justin’s father isn’t sensitive to his own son’s feelings, why should Bette Midler who is a known comic be expected to be?” If you look at it that way…..maybe because…I don’t consider a father’s abuse an excuse for me myself to be insensitive to the feelings of the victim? Look, I like Bette Midler and have always thought she’s extremely talented and funny, but….in this case she asked for it and she sure got it.
SeeingAll
@lauraspencer: Of course, if you think Bieber wanted people talking and got photographed on purpose, then she played right into his hands. (If this whole thing wasn’t arranged beforehand, which is still another possibility).
Nicola Charles
ð???
cjc1414
If Justin’s dad thinks that’s a big penis, he must be hung like a mosquito, dad you don’t know what big dick looks like. Oh, and by the way, your son is the most arrogant little twerp on the planet. His fans consist of little insipid girls, and gay little boys. I wish your son would just go away.
Drew Karpinski
Hes a PUNK. You are DIVINE
winnie
Bette Midler is indeed one of the legends but get real, most adolescents don’t know who the Midlers, Warwick, Labelle, Carole kings, are and this is hardly a diss. They don’t care. If its not hip hop, or some such music, it might as well be Greek.
Every generation sees this. Bieber might be a punk but it is not likely that she would be an inspiration or a venerated artist that would appeal to him growing(barely)up.
Gary John
You have to love Ms M xxx
captainburrito
“Dads are going to be dads.” Except when they aren’t… lol
Alistair Wiseman
I’m glad to see an icon like Bette Midler is really addressing the big, important issues.
Ricardo Giovanni Rodriguez
This just proves how ignorant this kid is to not know who a music icon is but if he turns this way I could help him get straight
jag4313
Funny.
David Andrew Roubideaux
How dare he. I love Bette! :)’s
Rimmington
I wanna see his dick!
meghanada
If Bieber is willing to forgive his dad and have a relationship with him, who’s this old gash to try and poison that well? What stake does she have in this?
1EqualityUSA
“It’s better to be hated for what you are than to be loved for what you are not.” Andre Gide
crowebobby
@winnie: Exactly! Johnny Mathis’ house burned down the other day and none of the 20-somethings on TMZ, who are hired and paid for their knowledge of the entertainment industry had any idea who he was. For people born in the late 80’s/early 90’s, the 1970’s might as well be the 1870’s.
Doughosier
I love Justin ( and Bette) but she hasn’t done a whole lot in the 20 years he’s been alive. He’s been immersed in the Hip Hop world. Of course, it could be he knew who she was but was dissing her…
Tony Hinojosa
Stupid child. Wit ain’t for this kid.
balddude13
Nick Hung, I think Bette was in her own irreverent and fabulous way was reaching out to Justin and made a valid statement about his dad abandoning him. He better learn quickly about Miss M. And he better get his life straight. He inadvertingly created an awesome alias for Bette..Britt Meddler lives!!!
Ricardo Carrillo
This dumb child is in desperate needs of manners lessons so who better than Britt Middler to start teaching him LOL
SonOfKings
Justin won this battle because she shouldn’t have butted in. But she still wins the war because she’s a timeless icon who will reign long after his miniature career has faded to dust. Btw, age is no excuse for knowing anything about show biz history. When my nephews were 10, back in the 90’s, they knew all about the divas from the 60’s and 70’s.
brooklynbobby
@lauraspencer: Do not get into a back and forth with seeingall. it is just a total ‘tard troll who loves to make idiotic remarks and personal attacks to see how much attention it can get. Seriously! Been there done that already and trust me, the more sense you make, the less sense it will make just to try and get on your nerves. it won’t succeed in the end but it just gives it fuel to continue it’s childish attention seeking games. And to anyone who doesn’t think the Beaver’s father is just a little bit twisted by making those comments? EWWWWWWW that’s just gross. Do you want your daddy talking about your penis so that the entire world knows about it?? EWWW EWWW EWWW EWW RALPHHHHHHH!!!!!!
Markajv
@Robert Wilson: “And just like that, @BrittMidler was born:” that’s the typo. HAHA. A love when an article has typos.
SeeingAll
@brooklynbobby: That was as pathetic as Bette Midler trying to jump into the nude Bieber story.
Tombear
The Showgirl Must Go On! Love Bette! Justin Babar not so much!
Mike Cooke
Go Bette!!!!
SportGuy
@Tony Hinojosa: LOL, so true! LOL, love you Bette! This stupid useless twit kid needs to go back to Canada and annoy the people in his own country. He is irrelevant and just begs for attention everyday. Even the teen girls he targets are over him, all he has no is the pedos who like him,lol.
SeeingAll
@SportGuy: @SportGuy: Bieber didn’t have to beg Bette for attention. She just stuck her nose in (and got slapped for it). But….still think you’re cool, Bette. And I hope they DO make that sequel to “Hocus Pocus”.
Joe
Miss Bette would knock his ass out with one look.
Josh Pagan
Jesus fucking Christ. Bette fired a shot without knowing what she she was talking about and Bieber spoke out about it, so don’t act like he was coming for her out of nowhere. I don’t care how long she’s been in the industry; that doesn’t give her the right to spew some bullshit and not have the other side say something.
notwuk
Throwing shade? Do any of you journalists know what that is? He had no idea who Bette was and thats all he said. How is that throwing shade? Why on earth your editorial team think you need to overly glorify a story so we will read it, its beyond me. Really lame journalism!!!
And as for Justin not knowing who Bette is… Theres billions of people in the world who dont know who she is but more specifically millions of people his age who dont have a clue about her (not saying that good or not, but just the way it is)
tusgold
so whaT I WOULD STILL suck his dick for days and eat that boi pussy on top and then get my brains fucked out by that stud
Sweetie Pie
@lauraspencer: Right, and she was mentioned nowhere in the tweet, unless she’s thirsty and she’s thinking aloud through her teets.
Bette, darling, you are a supernova, a diva, divine…and all that stuff…you still need no mind your own business…you need a life.
Captain Obvious
@Luis Collazo: No it just proves he’s still a baby. I’m pretty sure all adults know who Bette Midler is, you don’t need to be gay to know her.
Juanjo
I just love the biotchy queens sticking up for the Bieber Boy and dissing the Divine Miss M. Especially the one carping about same sex marriage. Bette has been a supporter of the gay community form her earliest days. She has stated more than once she has no issue with gay people marrying although she relaizes some religious people have issues with it.
Biebie Boy on the other hand is too busy being a dick to support anyone.
Oh and as for the right to comment on Biebs dad being an idiot – oh please honey. She has the same right of any of us to say what she wishes on his father being an irresponsible pos who spends his time letting his kid some pot and drive drunk.
Brian
What has Bette Midler ever DONE for gay rights? That’s right, DONE. I want to know what she’s DONE.
Singing in a bath-house doesn’t count.
johnnyone
For the record I agree that Justin’s an asshole, but I can’t believe the number of illiterate morons here commenting on his stupidity. You have no self awareness
RealBlast3
If Justin Bieber actually thinks a dad commenting on his son’s penis size is “Dads being dads” then Bette Midler is right, he really was abandoned by his dad and had no upbringing.
Giancarlo85
@Brian: What have you done? Asides from bash women and live in the closet your whole life…
Stefano
The Prince of Douchebags is so funny ! He really represents the new generation.
Joe
@Stefano:
The new generation of self absorbed twerps who require attention 24/7.
His photos with the strap-on at that bungalow over his vajajay are hilarious. Poor thing hasn’t reached puberty.
Stefano
@Joe: exactly !
meghanada
Her response was underwhelming, and her interference into a father’s attempt to bond with his child is infuriating. She’s a cvnt all around. An underwhelming cvnt.
Piathemonkeyqueen
He can’t get mad when his dad posted on Twitter knowing his son is high profile.
You don’t want no one knowing your business then don’t walk around naked publicly or with your itty bitty cherub penis hanging out.
You make yourself a target for comedians.
Bette Midler is an icon and Justin I’ll give you another two years before your star fades and everyone stops talking about you .
Piathemonkeyqueen
@SeeingAll: you are butt hurt.
He doesn’t give a shit about you dude .
What has this kid done here ?
Egg his neighbors expensive house and cause trouble . He’s disrespectful !
Blame his dad for putting out that public tweet. He doesn’t want anyone saying shit then keep his itty bitty dick inside his pants behind close doors. It’s a no brainier he wants publicity . Bette doesn’t need it she has over thirty years in show business . People will still know her name while Justin he will be forgotten in about two years.
Next ~
NYtoSF
I don’t know much about this Bev guy but must not be much if he doesn’t know who Bette Midler is. Must be pretty self absorbed & live under a rock. Is this Bev character a singer ? Never heard his work.
Eddie Yemaya
@SeeingAll:
I humbly genuflect to you. I was thinking the same thing.